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You get love when you give it. Animals are the best example because if we care for them they are loyal to us and our family too. No wonder, babies and toddlers get fascinated by animals as they are as innocent as the animals. However, many parents are apprehensive about having a pet at home when their babies are too young. We are afraid of our babies contracting infections from our pets.
But what if we said that having pets will help your baby grow better?
Yes. A
study by the University of Alberta, published in Microbiome, says that having furry pets can help develop the infant’s gut bacteria, which in turn avoids allergies and prevents obesity later in life.
This study was part of a larger Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development Study (CHILD), where 746 infants whose mothers were expecting between the years 2009-2012 were examined.
Of the total study group, 8% were exposed to at least one furry pet during pregnancy, and 46.8% were exposed before and after birth.
The mothers were asked pet-related questions such as whether they had a pet during the second or third trimester and postpartum. The two groups of pet exposure were compared against no pet exposure under different birth conditions.
The study findings indicated that infants exposed to furry pets had increased levels of two forms of bacteria – Oscillospira and Ruminococcus. Studies have shown the association of Oscillospira with a lesser risk of obesity, and Ruminococcus with reduced risk of allergies.
The research team found that having pets during pregnancy is associated with a lower risk of strep infection (which causes pneumonia in newborns) during birth.
The impact of pet exposure in infants varied under different birth scenarios. However, the common aspect in all scenarios was that the exposure increased the bacteria, which is negatively associated with allergies and obesity, two-fold.
These associations were independent of maternal asthma/allergy, breastfeeding, and other factors at home.
The study observed that when babies are exposed to bacteria and dirt from a pet’s paws or fur, it helps them build immunity early on. The immunity improves as the bacteria and dirt move from the pet to the mother and then to the growing fetus (through the placenta). It also happens during the newborn’s first three months.
Anita Kozyrskyj, a pediatric epidemiologist, who is one of the world’s leading researchers on gut microbes said, “This interaction helps develop the baby’s immune system. The abundance of these bacteria was increased two-fold when there was a pet in the house.”
The researcher says that microbes equip the immune system to react against harmful bodies such as pathogenic microbes and not against useful microbes and nutrients. Higher levels of one of the gut microbes are associated with leanness and protection against obesity.
However, the researchers said that more studies would be required to establish the link between changes in the gut bacteria in infants due to pet exposure. They would also like to see the changes in the health aspect in the long run.
So, isn’t it reassuring to see how nature takes care of the co-existence of pets and humans? Tell us if you have had any pets or if you are planning to get any. How do your children get along with pets?
Let us know in the comments below.
